Apparatus for doffing spinning frames



p 1964 J. F. KlNG, JR., ETAL 3,148,495

APPARATUS FOR DOFFING SPINNING FRAMES Filed Jan. 18, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I A INVENTOR James F. Km Donald A.$Lo0.n

BY fa), J%%& 39 PM ATTORNEYS 15, 1964 J. F. KlNG, JR, ETAL 3,148,495

APPARATUS FOR DOFFING SPINNING FRAMES Filed Jan. 18, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NI 1 a l Q q M W e INVENTORS w a In w James F King J Donald. 15.510011 BY WJWEJW ATTORNEYS United States Patent This invention relates to doffing mechanisms for doffing the filled bobbin on spinning frames and the like and more particularly to a dofiing mechanism of the type adapted to travel along the line of spindles and doff them in succession.

The dotting mechanism is arranged to be moved in a continuous manner to positions in front of each spindle and is caused to perform a cycle of movements for doffing each individual bobbin on the respective spindle.

The present invention is directed in particular to an improved mechanism for breaking the bobbins loose from their spindles and for imparting a substantially uniform upward velocity to the bobbins as part of a subsequent transfer operation of the full bobbins from their spindles to a suitable storage box or other container which may be provided to receive them.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved dofling mechanism which contacts the bobbin or the thread on the full bobbin near the bobbin butt to transmit an upward force to the bobbin and thereby break the bobbin away from its spindle and accelerate it upwardly and from the spindle.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved dofiing mechanism in which a substantially uniform impact force is applied to each bobbin so as to break the bobbin loose from its spindle and impart to it a substantially uniform vertically upward velocity.

Another object is to provide an improved dofiing mechanism including spring means in which a force is stored during the initial phase of a doffing cycle, the force stored in the spring means being released at the proper time and being applied upwardly to the bobbin in the form of an impact acting in a vertically upward direction.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an improvement doffing mechanism featuring a lifter arm adapted to engage and lift a bobbin from its spindle, the lifter arm being retractible from the line of spindles so as to permit the doifer mechanism to clear the end structure of the spinning frame as it is placed on its tracks for movement longitudinally of the spindle line.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an improved doifer mechanism wherein a quick acceleration is imparted to each bobbin as it is broken loose from its spindle.

Still another object is to provide an improved dofiing mechanism wherein a bobbin lift-oif force is stored in compressible spring means by components which may involve considerable inertia, other components of comparatively low mass being employed to apply the spring stored force in the form of an impact to the bobbin so as to break it loose from its spindle and impart to it a high acceleration in the upward direction.

The foregoing as well as other objects and advantages inherent in the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of one suitable embodiment thereof and from the accompanying drawings.

In these drawings,

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of the improved doffer mechanism in its relation to a row of spindles on the spinning machine to be doifed, the doffer arm being shown in the retracted position assumed by the mechanism prior to the start of a lifting cycle;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating the lifter ICC arm in its extended position just prior to a bobbin lift-off movement;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrating the lifter arm after completing the bobbin lift-off movement;

FIG. 4 is a view on line 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing the lifter arm in top plan; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are detailed views showing a modification for the lifter arm.

With reference now to the drawings, the spinning frame, otherwise not shown in detail, includes the usual spindle rail 10 extending longitudinally of the frame which serves to support the line of vertical, tapered spindles, one of which is indicated at 11. The spindles are driven in rotation about their axes by means of a conventional tape drive 12. A bobbin 13 having a tapered bore 13a is seated on each spindle to rotate with the latter and is wound with thread as the latter is pulled through the drafting rolls on the frame. When the bobbins have been fully wound, the spinning frame is shut down and it then becomes necessary to remove the full bobbins from their spindles and replace them with empty ones so that the spinning operation can be resumed.

As has been previously indicated, the present invention is directed to an improved mechanism for dofiing the full bobbins from their spindles and more particularly to imparting a hammer-like impact force to a lifter arm engaged with a bobbin so that the bobbin receives a sudden lifting force. This lifting force not only serves to break the bobbin away from its tapered, friction fit on the spindle but also imparts a vertical velocity to the full bobbin sufficient to effect a transfer of the same into a suitable receiver.

The doffer mechanism in accordance with the invention is mounted on a travelling support structure or carriage 14 provided with wheels 15 so as to enable the same to move longitudinally of the spinning frame on tracks 16 as the spindles are doffed in succession. The tracks 16 are, of course, aligned and maintained in parallel relation to the spindle rail It to make certain that the dofling mech-- anism carried by the support 14 moves along a true course parallel with the line of spindles 11. Suitable means, not illustrated, are provided for moving the support structure along the line of spindles to effect the doifing. Mounted on the support structure 14 for vertical reciprocating movement in vertically spaced guides 17 is an operating rod 18, the lower end of this rod being articulated by means of a pin and slot connection 19 to one end of a lever 20 pivotally mounted at 21 intermediate its ends upon support 14. The other end of lever 20 is articulated by means of a pin and slot connection 22 to the reciprocable armature element 23 of a solenoid 24 which is also mounted upon the support 14. A biasing tension spring 25 having one end anchored to support 14 and the opposite end attached to lever 20 on the same side of the pivot 21 as the solenoid armature 23 serves to load lever 20 in a clockwise direction about pivot 21 so as to urge the rod 18 downwardly whenever solenoid 24 is deenergized. Energization of solenoid 24 effects counterclockwise rotation of lever 2% so as to lift rod 18.

Secured to an upper portion of rod 18 is a spring stop member in the form of a horizontal plate 26 which extends laterally from the axis of rod 18. Plate 26 serves as a stop for the lower end of a helical compression spring 27 which surrounds the upper end portions 18a of rod 18 so that as rod 18 is moved upwardly, the spring 27 will be compressed.

The upper end of spring 27 bears against a stop member 28 which is pivotally connected to one horizontal arm 29a of a bellcrank 29 which is pivotally mounted at 30 on the support structure 14. The other arm 2% of this bellcrank extends downwardly and terminates in a notch 31 adapted to receive a roller 32 of a latch mechanism 33. This latch mechanism includes an arm 34 pivotally mounted at 35 on the support structure 14-, the roller 32 being carried at one end of arm 34 at one side of the pivot 35 and there being a yoke 36 on the opposite side of pivot 35. A rod 37 extends between the two arms 36a, 36b of the yoke, and the outer end of plate 26 is bifurcated so as to partially surround rod 37 and be engageable with the upper arm 36a of the yoke. A helical compression spring 3% surrounds rod 37 and is located between plate 26 and the lower arm 3% of the yoke. A loading compression spring 39 has the lower end thereof anchored to the support structure 14, and the upper end of this spring 39 bears upwardly against the underside of arm 34 so as to bias the latch mechanism 33 in a clockwise direction about the pivot 35.

A second bellcrank 42 is pivotally mounted at 43 upon the support structure 14 at a level above the bellcrank 29. Arm 42a of this bellcrank extends substantially horizontally and is articulated by means of a pin and slot connection 44 to the reciprocable armature element 45 of a solenoid 46. A tension biasing spring 47 has one end thereof attached to bellcrank arm 42:: and the opposite end anchored to the support structure 14 so as to urge the bellcrank in a clockwise direction about the pivot 43. The other arm 42b of this bellcrank extends in a substantially vertical, downward direction and terminates in a horizontal double-ended stud shaft 48 which serves as the pivot mounting for one end of lifter arm 4-9, this structural detail being shown more clearly in FIG. 4. Arranged on shaft 43 is a helical torsion spring 553 the ends of which bear against the shaft 48 and arm 49 respectively, so as to bias the latter in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 1-3. This biasing action on lifter arm 49 causes it to always bear against a roller 51 carried at the outer end of bellcrank arm 2%. The lifter arm 49 is constructed in the form of a plate which tapers somewhat in a convergent manner toward the outer free end, such end being preferably provided with a plastic tip 52 of nylon or the like which is adapted to engage the underface of butt portion 13b or bobbin 13, or the reduced diameter of the thread on the bobbin as shown in FIGURES and 6.

It being a desire that the bobbin 13 be given a high acceleration as it is broken loose from its seat on the spindle, it is preferred that the mechanical components involved in transferring the force stored in spring 27 by compression thereof into an impact below at the bobbin have a relatively low overall mass and hence correspondingly low inertia. Consequently, bellcrank 29 and lifter arm 49 which are the only two components involved in applying the force represented in the compressed spring 27 will preferably be made as light as possible consistent with the necessary strength which these two parts must have. The remaining components such as the solenoid armature 23, lever 29, operating rod 18, and latch mechanism 33 may involve a considerably higher overall mass since they are not involved in the actual acceleration of the bobbin in the upward direction.

Operation FIG. 1 shows the various operating components of the dofier mechanism in the positions assumed when the carriage structure 14 is progressing from one spindle to another. It will be noted that solenoid 24 is deenergized and that operating rod 18 occupies its lower position. Spring 27 is thus relatively uncompressed, the roller 32 of latch mechanism 33 is engaged with the notch 31 of bellcrank arm 2% thus holding the other arm 29:: in a substantially horizontal attitude. Solenoid 46 is also deenrgized thus permitting the biasing spring 47 for bellcrank 42 to hold the latter in the position inidcated so that lifter arm 49 is retracted from the spindle 11 and bobbin 13 thereon. By holding lifter arm 49 in the re tracted position, it will be certain to clear either the foot or head end of the spinning frame during installation of the dotfer mechanism on its tracks 16 alongside the frame. Also, in lifting warp bobbins which do not have a large butt end under which the outer end of the lifter arm can move so as to exert the necessary upward bobbin lift-off force, it becomes necessary to have the lifter arm move in against the side of the warp package on the bobbin. When carriage 14, which is self-propellcd to travel on track 16 by means of a suitable electric motor drive, reaches a position adjacent a spindle to be dotted, solenoid 46 is then energized to rotate bellcrank 42 counterclockwise to thus advance lifter arm 49 to the position shown in FIG. 2 wherein the outer end 52 of this arm locates beneath the bobbin butt 13b. Immediately following the advance of lifter arm 49, solenoid 24 is energized thus rotating lever 20 counterclockwise and causing operating rod 18 to raise and compress spring 2'7 to the position shown in FIG. 2. During compression of this spring, a restraining force is applied to the upper, force output portion of the spring to hold the same against release during loading of the spring to a predetermined magnitude, This restraining force is pro vided by that part of the dofling device comprising bellcrank arm 29a which bears against the upper end of spring 27 during its compression and the latch mechanism 33 which holds bellcrank arm 29:: against any upward movement until the latch mechanism is released. When spring 27 has been almost fully compressed, trip plate 26 will have reached the position engaging the upper arm 36a of yoke 36, whereupon further upward movement of plate 26 and rod 18 will cause yoke 36 and remaining components of the latch mechanism 33 to rotate counterclockwise to the position shown in FIG. 3, thus releasing latching roller 32 from its notch 31 and unlocking bellcrank 29 so that the force stored in the compressed spring 27 and which had been applied upwardly against the latched bellcrank arm 29:: is now released suddenly thus driving arm 23a upwardly and hence also driving the outer end of lifter arm 49 upwardly to strike a hammer-like blow against the underface of the bobbin butt 13b so as to release the bobbin from its friction fit on the spindle 11, the bobbin thereby receiving a suflicient vertical velocity in a very short time due to its high acceleration to effect transfer from the spindle to suitable bobbin receiving means which are not illustrated since they form no part of the present invention.

Preferably, the structural arrangement is such that latch roller 32 disengages from its notch 31 slightly before the upper end 18a of rod 18 would engage the spring stop 28. If the bobbin should happen to be so tightly stuck on the spindle that the impact force derived from the release of compressed spring 27 does not release it, the impact of the upward moving rod portion 18a upon contact with stop 28 will perform the releasing function after which the spring 27 can actuate the lifter arm in the normal manner.

Since the spring 27 is always compressed to the same extent prior to release of the latch mechanism 33, the force stored in the spring will always be the same for each operating cycle of the dofiing mechanism. Consequently, the impact derived from the spring will be the same for each operating cycle and thus all of the bobbins will be driven upwardly with substantially the same high accelerating force for transfer to the bobbin receiving means.

To restore the operating components to the position indicated in FIG. 1, solenoids 24 and 46 are deenergized. This causes rod 18 to lower and, as this movement is taking place, trip plate 26 bears against the spring 38 which serves to apply a force tending to rotate the latch mechanism in a clockwise direction. The force applied through spring 38 acts in conjunction with the clockwise force provided by biasing spring 39 and hence these two springs 38, 39 function to restore the latch mechanism to the position indicated in FIG. 1. The use of two springs rather than one equivalent spring force to be provided by biasing spring 39 is preferred in order to ensure a quicker tripping of the latch mechanism and hence a quicker release of the bellcrank 29 from the latched position.

It has been explained that when the mechanism is used for doffing warp bobbins which do not have a large butt, a modified construction for the lifter arm is necessary so that the outer end of the arm will move in against the side of a warp package, at which time the lifter arm is then driven upwardly. Such an embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. It will be seen from these two views that the outer end of lifter arm 49' is provided with a concave edge extending for substantially 180 which may be covered with a concave protective tip 52 of nylon or like plastic material. When the lifter arm 49' is advanced toward the spindle, the outer concave edge thereof is so positioned as to engage the warp package on the bobbin at a level below the point of maximum diameter. Then when the lifter arm 49 is driven upward upon release of latch mechanism 33, the warp package 54 and the bobbin 13 on which it is wound will also be driven upward to separate them from spindle 11.

In conclusion, it is to be understood that while the foregoing embodiment of our invention which has been described represents a preferred construction, various modifications may be made in the construction and arrangement of the component parts without, however, departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Also, while the dofi'er mechanism has been described in its relation to a spinning frame it is obvious that it can be applied equally as well to other types of textile processing machines which include a line of spindles to be doifed. As explained at the introductory part of the specification, a primary object of the invention is to provide an improved doffing mechanism which contacts either the bobbin or the thread on the bobbin near the bobbin butt to transmit an upward impart force to the bobbin and thereby break the bobbin away from its spindle and accelerate it upwardly and from the spindle. In the embodiment which has been illustrated, the lifter arm is pivotally mounted and the impact force is imparted to it from another member constituted by one arm of a bellcrank lever. However, various modifications of this particular arrangement may be devised without, however, departing from the spirit and scope of the inventive concept as expressed in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A device for successively doffing bobbins from a row of upright spindles supported upon a machine comprising a lifter arm movable into a position to engage each individual bobbin, the front end of said lifter arm being engageable with said bobbin and the rear end thereof being pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis for pivotal movement of said lifter arm in a vertical plane, a lever mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis and located below said lifter arm and engaged with the underside of said lifter arm, a latch mechanism for holding said lever in a latched position, spring means, means loading said spring means to establish a potential bobbin lift-off force which is applied in an upward direction against said lever when in said latched position, and means releasing said latch mechanism when the force established in said spring means reaches a predetermined magnitude to thereby effect a release of said lever and simultaneous application of the force established in said spring means through said lever to said lifter arm and thence to a bobbin engaged by the latter in the form of an upward impact.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 for doffing bobbins wherein said spring means is a compression spring.

3. A device for successively dofiing bobbins from a row of upright spindles supported upon a machine comprising a litter arm movable into a position to engage each individual bobbin, the front end of said lifter arm being engageable with said bobbin and the rear end thereof being pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis for pivotal movement of said lifter arm in a vertical plane, a lever mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis and located below said lifter arm and engageable with the underside of said lifter arm, a latch mechanism for holding said lever in a latched position, a vertically disposed compression spring, a vertically movable operating rod, said rod being engageable with the lower end of said spring, and the upper end of said spring being stopped by said lever when in a latched position, means for actuating said rod in a vertically upward direction thereby to compress said spring and establish therein a potential bobbin lift-01f force, and means for tripping said latch mechanism to release said lever when the compression in said spring reaches a predetermined magnitude thereby eifecting a sudden release of said spring force and application of the same through said lever and lifter arm to a bobbin engaged by the latter in the form of an upward impact.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 for dofiing bobbins wherein said means for tripping said latch mechanism is carried by said operating rod.

5. A device as defined in claim 3 for dofiing bobbins wherein said latch mechanism is comprised of a latching lever pivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof for pivotal movement in a vertical plane, one end of said latching lever being engageable with said lever and the other end thereof being engageable by said tripping means carried by said operating rod.

6. A device as defined in claim 3 for dofling bobbins including means for shifting said lifter arm back and forth between a retracted position clearing the line of bobbins on the spindles and an advanced position engageable with a bobbin on the spindle.

7. A device as defined in claim 3 for dofiing bobbins wherein the front end of said lifter arm terminates in the form of a blade adapted to engage a butt end of a bobbin.

8. A device as defined in claim 3 for doffing bobbins wherein the front end of said lifter arm terminates in an arcuate edge adapted to engage and partially surround a package wound upon the bobbin at a level below the maximum diameter of the package.

9. A device as defined in claim 3 for doffing bobbins wherein the upper end portion of said operating rod extends through said compression spring for striking an upward blow against said lever in the event the bobbin lift-off force developed by said spring is not suflicient to unseat the bobbin from its spindle.

10. A dofling device for successively doffing bobbins from a row of upright spindles supported upon a machine comprising lifter means engageable in succession with the bobbins, means for producing and storing a potential impact force for use at each bobbin location, said doffing device including restraining means for holding the force stored in said force producing means against release during a predetermined force storing period, and means for effecting a sudden release ofsaid restraining means to thereby efiect a corresponding sudden release of the stored force and which is applied to and through said lifter means to a bobbin at each bobbin location thereby to effect its release from the spindle and accelerate it in an upward direction.

11. A doffing device for successively dofling bobbins from a row of upright spindles supported upon a machine comprising dofiing means movable into a position engaging each individual bobbin, spring means having a force output portion for actuating said dofling means, means 7 loading said spring means to store therein a potential bobbin lift-off force, said dofiing device including restraining means for applying a restraining force to said force output portion of said spring means to hold the same against release during loading thereof to a predetermined magnitude, and means for effecting sudden release of said restraining means to thereby effect a corresponding sudden release of said force output portion of said spring means whereby the force stored in said spring means is applied suddenly to and through said dofiing means to a bobbin engaged thereby in the form of an upward impact.

12. A dofiing device for successively dofiing bobbins from a row of upright spindles supported upon a machine comprising dofling means movable into a position engaging each individual bobbin, spring means having a force output portion for actuating said dotting means, means loading said spring means to store therein a potential bobbin lift-off force, said dofiing device including restraining means for applying a restraining force to said force output portion of said spring means to hold the same against release during loading thereof to a predetermined magnitude, and means actuated when the force stored in said spring means reaches said predetermined magnitude for effecting sudden release of said restraining means to thereby effect a corresponding sudden release of said force output portion of said spring means whereby the force stored in said spring means is applied suddenly to and through said dofiing means to a bobbin engaged thereby in the form of an upward impact.

13. A doffing device as defined in claim 12 for dofiing bobbins and which further includes an auxiliary impact force means augmenting the upward force applied by said spring means in the event the bobbin lift-off force stored in said spring means is not sufiicient to unseat the bobbin from its spindle.

14. A dofiing device for successively dofiing bobbins from a row of upright spindles supported upon a machine comprising dofling means movable into a position engaging each individual bobbin, a compression spring having a force output end portion for actuating said dofiing means, means compressing said spring to load and store therein a potential bobbin lift-otf force, said doffing device including restraining means for applying a restraining force to said force output end portion of said spring to hold the same against release during compression thereof to a predetermined magnitude, and means actuated when said spring has been compressed to said predetermined magnitude for effecting sudden release of said restraining means to thereby effect a corresponding sudden release of said force output end portion of said compressed spring whereby the force stored in said compressed spring is applied suddenly to and through said dofiing means to a bobbin engaged thereby in the form of an upward impact.

15. A dotfing device for successively dofiing bobbins from a row of upright spindles supported upon a machine comprising a lifter arm movable into a position to engage each individual bobbin, the front end of said lifter arm being engageable with said bobbin and the rear end thereof being pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis for pivotal movement of said arm in a vertical plane, spring means having a force output portion for actuating said lifter arm, means loading said spring means to store therein a potential bobbin lift-off force, said dofiing device including restraining means for applying a restraining force to said force output portion of said spring means to hold the same against release during loading thereof to a predetermined magnitude, and means actuated when the force stored in said spring means reaches said predetermined magnitude for effecting sudden release of said restraining means to thereby effect a corresponding sudden release of said force output portion of said spring means whereby the force stored in said spring means is applied suddenly to and through said lifter arm to a bobbin engaged thereby in the form of an upward impact.

16. A doffing device as defined in claim 15 for doffing bobbins wherein said spring means is a compression spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,381,482 Asbill Aug. 7, 1945 3,088,266 Bahnson et a1 May 7, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 506,262 France May 26, 1920 163,731 Germany a- Oct. 31, 1905 284,140 Germany May 10, 1915 443,158 Germany Apr. 14, 1927 

1. A DEVICE FOR SUCCESSIVELY DOFFING BOBBINS FROM A ROW OF UPRIGHT SPINDLES SUPPORTED UPON A MACHINE COMPRISING A LIFTER ARM MOVABLE INTO A POSITION TO ENGAGE EACH INDIVIDUAL BOBBIN, THE FRONT END OF SAID LIFTER ARM BEING ENGAGABLE WITH SAID BOBBIN AND THE REAR END THEREOF BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID LIFTER ARM IN A VERTICAL PLANE, A LEVER MOUNTED FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS AND LOCATED BELOW SAID LIFTER ARM AND ENGAGED WITH THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID LIFTER ARM, A LATCH MECHANISM FOR HOLDING SAID LEVER IN A LATCHED POSITION, SPRING MEANS, MEANS LOADING SAID SPRING MEANS TO ESTABLISH A POTENTIAL BOBBIN LIFT-OFF FORCE WHICH IS APPLIED IN AN UPWARD DIRECTION AGAINST SAID LEVER WHEN IN SAID LATCHED POSITION, AND MEANS RELEASING SAID LATCH MECHANISM WHEN THE FORCE ESTABLISHED IN SAID SPRING MEANS REACHES A PREDETERMINED MAGNITUDE TO THEREBY EFFECT A RELEASE OF SAID LEVER AND SIMULTANEOUS APPLICATION OF THE FORCE ESTABLISHED IN SAID SPRING MEANS THROUGH SAID LEVER TO SAID LIFTER ARM AND THENCE TO A BOBBIN ENGAGED BY THE LATTER IN THE FORM OF AN UPWARD IMPACT. 